Vent valve for steam radiators



Feb. 6, 1945. F. JEHLE ETAL A 2,368,712

I VENT VALVE FORSTEAM RADITORS Filed Julyvl, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Feb. 6, 1945. F, JEHLE ETAL 2,368,712 VENT VALVE:4 Fon STEAM RADIA'ToRs l Filed July 1, l1942 zfsn'eetsfsnget 2A l l Hille-:1T

drainage.

Patented Feb. 6, 1945 vVENT'ver'.*vii Fon STEAM Ymxnmcrons f, 7

Ferdinand Jeme, Indianapolis, 1mi., and Edwin J A. Davies, rDes Moines, Iowa, assgnors'to Ho'- man :Specialty Go., Indianapolis, 1nd., :a cor- ,poration of Illinois 'p'plication July '1, 1942, Serial No. 449,2@4

(ci. 13a- 122) I' 17 Claims. J'

This invention relates to vent Avalves for use in steam heating systems, more particularly it relates to valves provided with `meansot'o 'cause' rapid and eflcient drainage vof liquid 4from the valve Acasing back. vinto the radiator.

In the copendin'g application vof WilliamK. Simpson, Serial No. led October -2,

1939, which issued `as PatentV No; '22892118 on July 47, 1942, a valve construction lis vdescribed in which the prior 's'rphon 'drainage tube is replaced ;by a partition plate, Vwhichv Yextends through the vvalve nipple, `dividing it into upper and lower Apassages 'and providing 'for separate water and air drainage without `the complications due to the use of the Siphon drain-tubes.

,to .be bridged b'y a sufcient quantity Iof water to cause a ow. `This ybrings@about Hpr'onsmt drainage of a flooded 'va'.lve.r n lviewfof the differences in the depth 'and tappings of "the vent lvalve bores in various radiators, it is fdek sirable that the tongue 'be iiexible 'orhinged and automatically adjustable to the 'various"cor-1A'f ditions of installation encountered in practice valve nipple under The vpresent invention is an improvement over the said Simpson construction in which, Uinstead of a fixed vpartition rplate `in the valve nipple, a 'hinged or 'movable or exible plate is' used to divide the nipple into upper 'and lower passages, the hinged or movable orl flexible partition plate also providing for 'better 4'corltrolled drainage of .the valve. l f

It .has long ,been recognized that .if proper drainage of a valve casing after flooding vis to be accomplished, more thanfa mere nipple connectionbetween the vent valve andthe 'radiator is necessary. That is, some mechanical addtion is necessary 'to overcome any physical con-` ditions .retarding' drainage ofjwater from rthe flooded valve in `order 'to start the drainage of ,therate of water from thevalve and 'to control For many .years 'this .was .accomplishedjby equipping vent valves withxa Siphon Stube which passedhorizont'ally through ,the 'valve nipple and projected downwandly Afrom its outer end into the radiator section. However, the tendency Aof Amanufacturers to produce narrower radiator -tubes has in .some cases made it lmpossible toinsert .the heretofore used Siphon tube valves without causing .the 'tube' to become wedged in, or in xcontact with, .the back wall '0I the radiator section, and when this .happens the `Siphon ltube Aoften .is ,tilted Y'in the 'nipple passageway in a position such that 'it imped'es drainage Irather than aids it fand its .Contact` with the back wall o'f the radiator .section creates other objections .as described in saidPatentNo. 2,239,218.

' radiator, so .as .to` provide .a substantially con-1f I vstarrt space Vbetween a p1"o "iecftirigportionofthe` tonguetand the .nearest adjacent part -of l the radiator `or vent `valve nipple, so as to'fatcilitate'` V.

For best performance, .a .tongue valve, as distinguished .from a Siphon `tube v-alve, should provide fa space between the end of the 'tongue andthe inside 4 of therad'iator tube or'the end `of the, valve nipple. (always, :small enough order (to provide automatically Y-for proper Vspa-c ing of the tongue iromthe radiator tube v-or all the various conditions `of installations.

The object offthe jprese'nt inventionyis Yto prov-( Vid fa. Vent ValVe 'fOr 'Stem heating "'SY'SDS having means to promote drainage otwater from" the valvecasing back into the radiator underall conditions o'f normal operation and construction of the Vmany types of column and tubular "radiators and which drainage means willautomatically accommodate or adjust itself 'to' the-'construction of the particular radiator A on which the valve is installed. j f

.Another 'object Jo'f this' "invention 'is to provide anair ventyalve for' steam vradiators adapted to ,quickly start 'the drainage fol waterpresent in the valve 1casing asthe result `of nodding 4of the valve. f

A urtherobject oi this 'invention iis to "provide a vent valve capable ofpromoting'draln-f age at a .suliicientlyrapid rateduring'iioo'ding conditons to allowsu'icient 'venting'.peri'odsto enable fthe .radiator jto- 'be able time.'

VAnother object of 'the invention is t'olprovide a, valve with `drainage yfacilitiespthat Vwill function effectively ,regardless o'f'whether 'the valves are of the vacuum vor non-vacuum'type. y

Another .object of thefi'nvention is to provide a .self-.draining vent valve '.which" will A'be economicalfto construct-and which will not Aget out ofoperation. 1 j Another object of -theinvention is to provide a Yself-adjusting tongue .or vent valves, 'which will automatically .adjustitsei'f Lto 'the condition of '."installation encountered `V`'the 1lparticiilar `drainage .of water between ,the projecting ,porw tion off .thextongue and theradiator.

,Another AobJetft .is .to provide ,a self-draining vent valve which canbein'stalled in the .standard Openings of narrow radiators without icontacting withl 'the bax-il'c waillo the radiator sei:-V

2 i fi invention will become apparent as the description proceeds.

In the accompanying drawings which illustrate preferred forms -of construction embody-' ing features of vthis invention:y

Figure 1 shows a vent Valve of the type to which our invention applies, having an adjustable or exible tongue, in which the valve nipple is projected a maximum distance into aV radiator with a short nipple boss.

Figure 2 shows an installation in which the:

valve nipple extends a` minimum distance into the radiator with a long nipple boss, but in Figure 3 is a vertical section on an .enlarged scale of a radiator vent valve having a nexibly adjustable tongue and showing` Vthe detailed structure of the complete valve. Y e Figure 4 is a horizontal section along the line 4 4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a vertical section of a nipple and a modied form of partition and tongue member. l I Figure 6 is a vertical section of a modied partition member pivotally mounted in the nipple. Figure "lis a vhorizontal section `taken on the line -1--1 of Figure 6.

Figures 8 and Q'are a vertical and horizontal View Aof a modified form of partition member. Figures 1l) and 11 are a vertical and horizontal view. of .another modied form ofV partition member. Figure 1'2'Ais a vertical view of still another modicationj if Figure 13 is aA vertical view along the plane `of the Aline I3`I3 of Figure 12.

--Figure 14 is a horizontal View of a partition 140 plate xedly mounted in a valve nipple and having a hinged tongue onthe end thereof. 1

Figure V15 shows a valve nipple construction in which the tongue may be inserted from the front ofthe nipple after the nipple has been assembled on the valve casing. Figure 16 kshows a partition plate or tongue adapted for-'insertion from the front of the nipple; and

' Figure '17 Vshows a valve nipple having a spring tongue installedand having a'permanent downward bias or spring to keep'the end of the tongue near the end of the valve nipple or radiator bore at all times. j

, kThe radiator construction illustrated in Figure 1 shows the valve AI khaving a,nipple 2, which projects into the 1radiator column 3 a maximum distance, du'e to the short boss 4 Vand the threading on the inside ofthe boss and on the valve nipple. In this construction it will be noted, however, that the adjustable tongue' which is the subject matter of ourinvention projects into the radiator column, and that the projection 5 from of the adjustable tongue 5 of the valve nipple still projects into the column 3 of the radiator and is spaced a short distance from the inside of the radiator boss, so as to promote the bridging of water across this space, which will cause the formation of drops of water to flow down the walls of the column 3 vand promote vdrainage of water from the valve. Y

While the adjustable tongue of our valve may take various forms, as illustrated in the other figures of the drawings in all the forms, it is intended that the'portion of the tongue from which the water starts to ,drip shall, regardless of whether. it is installed in a long boss or a short boss radiator, be spaced a short distance from the nearest portion of the radiator or nipple to facilitate the forming of a water bridge which will start drainage from the valve. l

A form of omplete valve with which our invention may e used is illustrated in Figure 3 as including avalve casing Il) having a vent port -I2 at its upper end and closed at its lower end by a base I4; a thermostatic float 20\enclosing a volatile liquid is mounted within the lcasing I, and a valve pin 22-is supported by the float and adapted .to engage the valve seat I3 of the port I2 when the' oat 20 is raised either by water notation ory by expansion of the volatile liquid therein. A nipple 30 projects laterally'from casing I0 for connection to a radiator, and an adjustable partition'member or tongue 40, which may take various forms as described hereinafter, is movably mounted in the nipple and projects outwardly beyond the edge of the nipple. While this valve illustrates a familiar type of construc tion, it will beV understood that the adjustable construction.v

In normal operation a valve of the type' illustratedoperates in much the same manner as other Valves of this type. The nipple 30 which is threaded externally is screwed into a tapping provided therefor in a radiator and-this connects the interior of the radiator with therinterior of the'valve casing and provides a vent passage from the radiator tothe atmosphere through the port I2 at such times when the valve pin 22 is not seated initsseat I3. The valve pin 22 closes the vent pori-and 'prevents any communication between the4 atmosphere and the inside ofthe the tongue is spacedv only such a short distance from the'end of the valve nipplefthat a drop `of water 'can bridge this space and start drainage lof` water from the valve. VIn Figure 2; the nipple 2 is shown as projecting a minimum distance into the longer boss 4 l nipple bosses and threaded indiierent ways. `It

will be noted, however,l in Figure 2 that the end radiator Vvs'fhene'ver water collects vin the valve casing, andy causes the hollow oat 2D to rise and press the valve ,pin 22 into its seat. When the float 2U is not supported by water thediaphragm 24 rests on a supporting kboss I6 which rises from base I4 and in this'position the vvent port I2 is open unless the temperature in the casing causes the volatile liquid enclosed in the float 20 to lexpand and distend the diaphragm 24 sufcientlyjto cause the valve pin 22 to be raised and pressed into contact withpitsseat I3, Such avalve will'therefore permit'the escape of air lfromthe radiator throughl the vent port I2 but will prevent the escape of steam or water there-y gettare the T1"!ale`-''ifigtidles's of v"whtlier 'the valvenipple is 'screwed far into the` radiator b'ss or only pro-f jects a short distance therein, l

a f s illustrated, -when the nippleprojects only a shortdist'ance into tlie boss 4 of the radiator coluinn '3, the space .A between the pivoted tongue 40 and the inside of the boss 4 is such that drainag Will facilitated. If 'the pplle projects bee yo'nd the inneredge 'of the boss 4 the manner illustrated in Figure l, the pvoled tlglle 40 will move downwardly by yga'vity and Yass'l'ime a position Yin Whioh the Space 'B between the' tongue and the end of the Valv'nipple be small enough to promote drainage of water 'from the Valve.

In order to promote drainage 'of water 'from the valve back intolthe radiator after the v'valve has flooded with water, 'which viioodiig occurs during a heating "period Ywhen steam news into the valve casing and condense's therein, or when water from steam cndnsii'ig within the 'radiator 'itself lsurges into the valve, we may provide a hinged or spring plate or tongue of various fforms in the nipple of th valve, which plate or ltongue by laccommodating itselfv to the position of the 'valve nipple inthe radiator column or boss intov which the nipple is screwed'promotes the drainage ofvwater from the valve.

In Figures 3, land 5, the partitionlmemfber 4U,

which is used to facilitate and control the drainage of water from the valve casing back into `the radiator, is in the rform o'f a flat pivoted tongue movablymounted in an enlargement 32 in the nipple to promote drainage when the water has hooded into the valve casing above the nipple.

The partition member 40 separates the nipple bore into two passages, the upper passage serving as a conduit for air ventering-the valve from the radiator and the lower acting as a conduit for water leaving the valve and entering the radiator. Due to the pivotal connection of the member 40 in the valvenipple, the outer end of the partition member 40 will adjust itself to a'positio-n near the bottom 30a of lthe nipple 30 or the bottom 'of lthe nipple orifice `or boss in the radiator, and the underside 'of the member l40 will'actlas-a'caloillary leader along which Water inthe passage -below the partition 40 will bridge until itforms a "drop which will ow down the inside of the radiator column. Soon a second dropforms in the same way and once the flow-of waterrback into i the radiator has started, the air -in the Yradiator l under pressure will enter the vvalve to displace more water until al1 the water in the valve 4above the nipple passage has been drained out.

The plate 40 may be pivotally mounted on a Apin 46 which may extend horizontally vacross the 'enlarged inner chamber 432 of the nipple 3U lor -a'cross the narrower portion-of the nipple. The ;p1ate 40 may be secured on the pin 46 by a, turned over end 44. In Figure 5, the pin :'46 is shown 4als Amounted in the nipple vpassage-itself instead of in the enlarged chamber,` and the tongue is shown 'as =havingarearward extension behind the s l, pivotpin.

Instead of being pivotally connected in 'the valve nipple, the partition plate may be movably mounted therein as illustrated in Figures 6, 7, 8

and 9, in which the plates 50 and5l arejshown,v

as'provided with T V.shaped projections 42 which tintoslots 32a in the chamber 32 toihold the fplates f5!) -or '5l ymovably in the Valve nipple. The '32a fm'ay be 'closed-by displacedllugs 32h 'fr iny other suitable vmeans to 1prevent fthe :pro- 2755 jecti'rs i2 frbm becoming accidentally disputed cent the inner end-of the radiator-boss when vthev valve nipple 'extends onlyl a short way into the iboss as illustrated in yF'igure 2 and promotes drainage between the tongue 50 and the lower in-i t side edge of the radiator boss when in this Aposition. When, however, the length and tapping lof the radiator boss is such that the valve nipple extends therethrough asin Figure f1, the lprojection '50a is located at the projecting endof the lirali'le lnipple where it actsto cause bridging Iof the water at this point, 'causing the formation of drops Vwhich :drain thefooded valve. i

The projection 50a should be of sufficient length to bridge two ormore threads inthe radiator boss, "so it will ride over the 'threads and not'geit caught thereon vas the nipple is being screwed V'into the radiator. i

Figures 8 and 9 show a projection/5m 'stru/bk from the tongue '5I `and `serving vthe `sarne purvpose "as the projection 50a. v

In Figures 10 and 11 a removable tongue 52 is illustrated in which va projection 52a has been v assembled withthe valve casing and the tonguev inserted later. It is also possible with this :type of construction to ship the assembled valves 'and supply the Vplumber or steam fitter with various length tongues, so that a tongue of the proper v length can be inserted as the Valve is being ii-tted to the particular radiator.

With removably mounted tongues as shown in VFigures 10 and 11, it is therefore possible for the `steam iitter to fit tonguesof different lengths into the Valve nipple to securebetter the .drainage of the valve according to thefdifferent depths of nippleI openings or bosses in radiators.

t To facilitate the assembly of this type of tongue into Ythe yvalve nipple, thefnipple v'3"0 may` 'be provided with slots 32a in which Ithe projections 42 it, as illustrated 4in Figure r15. v insert the tongue inthe nipple, the sides of the tongue Y52 are compressed vand vinserted in the bore of the nipple, and when the tongue has been vinserted to the proper depth, the projections 42 arepermitted to 'spring' into 'the .slots "In @mrito facilitate the new of air 'into the i ures 12 and 13, the tongue 53 is movably mounted `in thenipple 30 and is provi'dedwith a 'centrally mounted projection 53a which is located beyond theendjof thetnipple j3l) 'and rests upon `the opening in the radiator 4bore and supports theA tongue 53 a given'dis'tance above 'the 'radiatorl boss to give a 'regulatedfdraiha'ge from "the l vsmall as X fs"- tongue of our valve under these conditions is valve when the nippleis inserted to the position of Figure 2, and when in the positionof ,Figurel the projection 53d acts as a water leader at the end of the valve `nipple to` cause bridging and the drainagev of drops lof water.` The projection 53a will slide along the threaded bore ofthe radiator opening as the nipple is screwedinto the radiator and will not interfere with the mounting of the valve on the radiator.A

In Figure 14 the nipple 3U of the valve has a plate 54 `mounted therein, and o n the outer end of this plate a hinged tongue 54a is mounted by means of a hinge pin 55 or the like. A narrow projection 56 is formed on or integral with the tongue 54a to support the tongue agiven distance from the end of thenipple'l or' a given distance from the walls of the opening in the valve.

Figure 16 illustrates a modified type of spring .tongue in which a projection 51a has been struck from the body of the tongue 51 and in which slots 52h have been cut in the tongue to permit springing it into place.

In Figure 17, the tongue 58 is of spring construction and is rmly mounted at its inner end 58a in the inner end of the valve nipple 130. The tongue 58 is, however, given a permanent vdownward bias or set before it is installed in the Yvalve nipple, and when inposition in the radiator it will always move near to the bottom of the bore in the radiator boss or near the `bottom of the nipple bore. The curvature of the .bore in the radiator or nipple will prevent the .springftongue from moving Ytoo far down, but

vthe spring tongue 58 of Figure 17 will nevertheless always adjust itself -to a position which promotes drainage of water from the valve.

For the best results, we have found that tongues such as All, 50,5I, 52, 58, etc., should be isufciently long to project through the radiator.

boss, which has been tapped to receive the vent valve, and into the radiator tube or column when the valve has been screwed into the radiator tapping a minimum amount as illustrated in Figure 2. However, the tongues should not be so long that when the valve is screwed into the boss the maximum amount as illustrated Yin Figure 1 the tongue will touch the far wall of the radiator tube.

As a specific example in commercial radiators of different types the length of'boss has been found to vary from a minimum of 1% to 'a maximum of 1/2", and the radiator tube dimensions of some radiators have been found to be as The preferred length of one which projects approximately l1b" beyond the edge of the nipple. This length insures a projection of the tongue into the radiator tube at all times, and yet assures that the tongue will not strike the far wall of the. radiator tube regardless of how far the valve nipple is screwed into the radiator boss. The provision of projections such as a,.5la 52a, 53a. and 54a adjacent the end of the valve nipple insures support forthe end of the tongue when'the nipple is inserted the minimum distance as in Figure 2 and these projections also provide drainage means when the nipple is inserted the maximum distance as in Figure 1.

The width of the tongues, 50, 5|, 52 53, etc., also affects the drainage. In preferred embodiments the width of the tongue is made less than the diameter of the bore of the nipple but sufradiator, to thereby facilitate drainage from the ciently large to maintain a lsubstantial lower passageway for the flow of water.- The limited .width coupled with the pivotal or movable connection gives the tongue a. flexibilityl of movement. This permits ,the tongue to contact the edges of the walls of the. tapping or the nipple and induce the ow of water. It also makes it possible to curve the projecting end of the tongue more than would ordinarily be possible while still retaining the ability :to screw the valve into the tapping without danger of distorting the tongue. All the tongues shown in the drawings are so mounted inthe nipple that they contact the edges of the outside of the nipple well below the center line.

Tongues provided with a drop lip or projection, such as those shown at 50, 5| 52, 53 and 54a in Figures 6, 9, 10, 12, 13 and 14, are also particularly well adapted to promote drainage. Tongues of this ltype are particularly suitable when Vthe valve is screwed into the radiator tapping to such a degree that the nipple projects beyond the inside wall of the' radiator. Under such circumstances without the drop lip or projection there is often aitendency for the flow of water to be arrested at the inside edge of the nipple and a denite hesitancy for it to drip over the edge by gravity. At such times the drop lip causes the water to bridge the gap and get it to a lower level where gravity again takes hold and pulls the water down. Several modifications of such drop lips are shown in the drawings. In Figure 6, the tongue shown is cut back from the edge to the center line in two lplaces and the part between the cuts turned down at In the tongue shown in Figure 8, the drop lip was made by punching out a portion of the center ofthe tongue and bending the part in to form a diagonal line with the leading edge toward the nipple and the tailing edgesex'tending toward the edge of the tongue.` In this position, the inner edge of the drop lip is lplaced in line with the center of the nipple and the outside edge closer to the edges of the tongue. j Another modification is shown in Figures 12 and 13. The tonguethere shown is at from end toend with a drop lip running longitudinally of the rprojecting portion.

We have found that projections of-the type herein shown and described if placed at too great a distance from the end of the nipple will not help promote the ilo-w and, therefore, the drainage of Water, from the valve. The "distance between the leading edge of the drop lip or projecl tion and the nipple mayvary from just touchingv our invention and the scope of the appended claims. y

We claim: l. A vent valve for steam radiators, comprising a casing having a vent port and a lateral nipple for connection with a radiator., a float valve within the casing, and means in the nipple to cause drainage of water from the casing through the nipple comprising a substantially aaesma i assume a position facilitating drainage of water from said valve. i

2. A vent valve for a steam ,heatingsystem comprising a casing having `a vent port and a lateralYV nipple for connectionY with the system, a float valve within the casing, and means in the nipple to cause drainage of4 water from the casing through the nipple comprising a substantially flat. horizontal partition memberl extending Vsubstantially from side to side of the nipple and -movably mounted for free up` and down movement at the end of the nipple and having an outwardly protruding portion extending substan-` tially beyond ythe end of the nipple and a member projecting downwardly from said outwardly protruding portion immediately adjacent but spacedfrom the .end of the nipple to facilitate drainage of'water from said valve. 3. A vent valve for a steam heating unit, comprising a casing having a vent port and a lateral nipple forvconnection with the Aheating unit, a oat'valve within'the casing, and means in the nipple to cause drainage of water from the cas-l ing through the nipple comprising .a .substantially flat. exible partition member movably mounted for free up and down movement at thevend of the nipple and extending substantially from side to. side thereof and dividing the `nipple into substantially equal upper and lower passages and having anl outwardly protruding rportion extending beyond and below'the end' of the nipple.

4. Avent valve for steam radiators, compris ing a casing having a Vent port and a'lateral nipple for lconnection with a bore through the wall, of a chamber toi` be vented, and means in the nipple to cause drainage of Water `from the casing through the nipple comprising a hinged partition mem-ber movably mounted in the nipple and having an outwardly protruding portion extending beyond the end of the nipple, and means connected to the partition member and spaced from the end thereof and from the end of the nipple adapted to support the end of the partition member adjacent the bore of the wall to facilitate drainage from the valve.

5. AV vent valve for steam radiators, comprising a casing having a vent port and a lateral nipple for connection with a radiator, a float i valve within the casing, and meansin the nipple to cause drainage of water -from the casing through the nipple comprising va horizontal partition member loosely mounted and vertically movable in the nipple and having an outwardly pro-` truding portion extending beyond the end of the nipple, and means holding the partition member at a controlled distance from a cooperating drainage member facilitating drainage of water from said valve.

6. A vent valve comprising a casing having aI vent port and a laterally extending nipple, a valve and oat unit contained within the casing for closing and opening said port with the rise and descent of the oat, and a movable tongue member pivotally mounted in the nipple` and dividing the nipple bore into upper and lower passages, said partition member extending outwardly from the end of said nipple, and means to support the partition member at a controlled distance yfrom ai cooperating drainage member facilitating drainage of water from said valve.

7. A ventvalve for steam radiators, compris.-V ingI a` casing having a vent. port and, a *laterally extending nipple for connection with a` radiator,

a float valve within the casing, andmeans in the nipple. to cause drainage of water from the casing comprising a loose pivotally mounted substantially flat partition member projecting beyond the end of the nipple and extending substantially from side to side of said nipple and having av Width less than the inside diameter of vthenipple so that the freeend ofthe member will fall below the end of the nipple andbridge across its end wall below the center line thereof. V

8. A vent valve for steam radiators, comprising a, casing having aI vent port, afloat valve Within the: casing and a laterallyextending nipple on the casing for connection with a radiator, and means within the nipple to cause drainage 4oi' water from the casing through the nipple,` comprsing` a. substantially llat leaf spring partition member extending substantially from` side to side of said nipple and having a downward ybias* mounted at the inner end-of vsaid nippleA and extending therethrough and projecting outwardly therefrom beyond its outside diameter, said member dividing the nipple bore into upper and lower passageways. I

9. A vent valve for steam radiators, comprsing a casing having a vent `port and a lateral nipple for connection to a radiator, a vent valve `within thecasing, and means in the nipple to cause drainage of` water from the casing through the nipple comprising a partition member pivotally mounted at the inner end` oi said nipple liz) and'extending from side to side thereof and `from back to front thereof and projecting therefrom, said member dividing the nipple bore into upper and lower passagesand-the projecting portion of said partition member provided with a supporting member.

10. A vent valve for steam radiators, compr" ing a casing having a vent port and a laterally an enlarged chamber at the inner end of said nipple, a float valve within the casing, and means in the nipple to cause ,drainage of water from the casing through the nipple comprising a sub stantially iiat horizontal partition member pivotally mounted at the inner end 'of said nipple and extending therethrough and projecting therefrom dividing the nipple bore into upper and lower passages, and a downward extension a float valve within the casing, and means in thev nipple to cause drainage of water from the nipple, comprising a loose substantially at partition .member pivotally mounted at the inner end of.

said nipple and extending therethrough and projecting therefrom, said partition member dividing said nipple `into substantially equal .upper and lower passages and being provided with a longitudinal slot to permit compression of `the partition member at its inner end for insertion or withdrawal of the partition member rfrom the outside lthrough the nipple.

l2. A vent valve for steam radiators, comprising a casing having a vent-port anda laterally extending nipplefor connection with a radiator,

a float valve within the casing, and means in the nipple to cause drainage of water from the casing through the nipple, comprising a pivotally mov-` able substantially flat horizontal partition member extending through saidnipple substantially from side to side and projecting therefrom with the outer end thereof projecting below the bottom of the nipple.

13. A vent valve for steam radiators, comprising a casing having a vent port and a laterally extending nipple for connection with a radiator, a oat valve within the casing, and means in the` nipple to cause drainage from the casing through the nipple, comprising a substantially at tongue loosely fastened for pivotal movement 'at the inner end of said nipple, said tongue extending through said nipple and dividing the nipple into two substantially equal passages and projecting therefrom and curved downward at the tip with theA curved tip of said tongue substantially below the bottom part of the nipple when in operating position.

14. A vent valve for steam chambers, comprising a casing havingv a vent port and a laterally extending nipple for connection with a steam chamber, a fioat valve within the casing, and means in the nipple to cause drainage from the casing through the nipple comprising a substantially fiat tongue loosely fastened for pivotal movement on the inside of said nipple, extending substantially from side to side and through said nipple and projecting beyond the end of said nipple a distance suiiiciently great to cause the tongue to project beyond the inside edge of the tapping and into the steam chamber into which the valve is screwed.' 15. A vent valve for steam chambers, comprising a casing having a vent port and a laterally extending nipple for connection with a steam chamber, a flo-at valve -within the casing, and

means in the nipple to ycause drainage from the casing through the nipplecomprising a substantially fiat tongue loosely fastened for 'pivotal movement on the inside of said nipple, extending substantially from side to side and through said nipple and projecting beyond the end of said nipple a distance sufficiently great to cause the tongue to project beyond the inside edge of the tapping and into the steam chamber into which y the valve is screwed, said tongue having a slot beginning at the inner end thereof and spring portions at eachr side of said slot, whereby said tongue can rbe inserted into and removed from said nipple without'removing the nipple from the valve.

.16. The combination with a steam chamber of a steam heating system having a threaded boss into the steam chamber, of a vent` valve having afventing port and a oat controlled valve therein mounted in said boss, and a pivotally mounted tongue in the nipple of said vent valve extending substantially from side to side thereof and projecting from the end thereof into the steam chamber, and means on said tongue to support the tongue on the threads of the boss when the valve nipple is inserted ya short way into said boss.

17. A vent valve for steam radiators, comprising a casing having a vent port and a lateral nipple forA connection with a radiator, a oat valve within the casing, and means inthe nipple to cause drainage rof water from the casing through the nipple comprising a substantially flat leaf spring partition member so mounted as to have a downward bias, mov'ably mounted in the nipple and extending substantially from side to side thereof and having an outwardly protruding portion extending-beyond'and below and spaced from the end of the nipple to facilitate drainage.

FERDINAND JEHLE. EDWIN A. DAvIEAs. 

